Fruits of Toil in the London Missionary Society | Page 6

taught in the English and Native languages. A few are revising
translations of the Bible; others are preparing commentaries,
school-books, and other Christian literature. All have to share in
building; and, besides the Medical missionaries, a great number
constantly give medicine to the sick. Here we see Dr. TURNER, in the
admirable seminary at Malua, training the Native Teachers; Mr.
EDKINS and Mr. MUIRHEAD penetrate the Mongolian desert, to
inquire into the place and prospects of a Mission among the Tartar
tribes; while Mr. JOHN, after completing the new Hospital, is isolated
within a vast sea, the overflowings of the mighty Yangtze, which has
drowned half the streets of Hankow. We see Mr. ASHTON and Mr.
JOHNSON, Mr. COLES and Mr. BLAKE, Mr. HALL and Mr. RICE,
surrounded by the hundreds of their students and scholars, diligent in
daily English studies. We see the TRAVANCORE brethren in the
midst of their many agents; advising pastors, instructing catechists,
reading evangelists' journals, examining candidates, and auditing
accounts; while, in their midst, Dr. LOWE and his seven students

administer to their crowd of patients in the hospital that medicine
which shall relieve their pain. Dr. MATHER re-edits the Hindustani
Scriptures. The brothers STRONACH, fellow-labourers indeed in the
kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ; still watch over the prosperous
churches of Amoy, which they were honoured to found. In the midst of
barbarism, Mr. MOFFAT carefully revises that Sichuana Bible of
which he was the first translator. In the midst of civilization, after
reading the proofs of the Chinese New Testament, Dr. LEGGE,
consulting his learned pundits, dives deep into the ancient Chinese
classics, and strives, by an erudite commentary, to make plain the early
history of China. While Mr. LAWES, who describes himself as the
"poet laureate" of Savage Island, after completing the New Testament,
prepares the first Christian hymn book, for the use of the converts he
has brought to Christ. Mr. THOMPSON, visiting the Missions in Cape
Colony, drives with hard toil across the fiery dust of the Karroo desert;
Mr. JANSEN and Mr. MUNRO, in their long canoe, traverse the
gorgeous and silent forests of Guiana, to visit the little Mission among
the Indians below the rapids of the Berbice. Mr. MURRAY,
opportunely arriving in a screw steamer, prevents war among the
Christians of Manua; Mr. CHALMERS, voluntary leader of the band of
converts who keep the John Williams afloat, sticks by the vessel to the
last, and, with his brave wife, refuses to quit the ship till she is
anchored safe in Sydney harbor. While Mr. PHILIP, pastor and
schoolmaster, doctor and lawyer, engineer and magistrate, of the
flourishing Hottentot Christians of Hankey, when overturned in a
ravine on a visit to his out-station, preaches to his people with a broken
arm, rather than deprive them of that bread of heaven which they had
come many miles to hear. Who would not rejoice and thank God for
such men? Of the ninety Protestant Missionaries labouring in China,
the five who stand first in public estimation for character, scholarship,
and zeal are missionaries of this Society. Among the five hundred
missionaries of India, not a few of our brethren occupy a high and
honoured place; while in all other of the older Missions the men who
with fidelity and zeal have steadily maintained their posts for
twenty-five and thirty years are numerous, and are all held in honour. A
just consideration of toil like this will show that never in the Society's
history had the Directors greater reason to thank God for the grace

bestowed upon their missionaries, or stronger ground for holding them
in esteem as workmen not needing to be ashamed.
[Illustration: NAGERCOIL SEMINARY.]
[Illustration: SCHOOL-HOUSE, CUDDAPAH.]

V.--MISSIONARY STUDENTS.
While discussing, amongst other matters, the expense of the Society's
Seminary at Highgate, the Special Committee suggested an inquiry into
the question of the training of the missionary students generally. It was
felt by them that the advanced position attained by our Missions in all
parts of the world, gives to the missionary brethren, as a body, very
great opportunities of usefulness. A large number of them are called to
be superintendents of several churches and many native agents, to be
counsellors of native pastors and missionaries, and tutors in theological
seminaries. All the brethren in India and China may hold intercourse
with Native scholars and priests, and have to defend truth and assail
error by argument, spreading over a wide range of thought and
knowledge. Several of them have charge of educational institutions of a
high order, and are associated with Native ministers who are
themselves men of superior education and position.
It is an injustice to our missionary brethren themselves to place them in
such positions of weight and influence without giving them the
opportunity of acquiring a